LOVE OR DEAD
CHAPTER 32: GRANDPA GETS SICK

Aunt Sanchi is busy helping grandma and grandpa prepare bento while I serve customers who have been waiting in line to take bento. A long day with lots of orders. Despite the fatigue, we sat in front of the tavern staring at the twilight by the side of the road.

Grandma and grandpa enjoyed apple juice side by side sitting in rows with me and auntie on the front bench of the store.

“You guys are so romantic, I envy looking at her” I said looking at grandma and grandpa.

“We've gone through the joy of grief son, there's no emotion left in this relationship. Just enjoy the beauty of twilight age like an orange in the sky, waiting for the stars that will be present shift it” said grandfather with a smile.

“Yoshiko... You should immediately find a man to decorate your – days beautifully. Like the two of them, no matter what your life is, believe me there must be a good man present in your life.” added aunt Sanchi.

“Hmmm... I've been very happy with you guys, enjoying twilight like this together has been very grateful. At least you've been with me for a few months replacing my family” I said as I hugged Sanchi's aunt next to me.

“Supposed Jiro could feel the same, that stupid kid made his life useless” complained aunt Sanchi.

“Already, let him live by his choice. He remains your son and he remains my grandson” said grandfather.

I know this family actually misses the pufferfish, but they can't accept Jiro into the Yakuza organization. I don't know what makes Jiro can leave his family to become a member of the Yakuza group.

A few days since Jiro visited…

We had our day as usual, lovingly selling bento in the store. In the middle of lunchtime, Grandpa went into the toilet in the back corner of the store. Arrived – arrived grandfather while opening the door slipped and fell to the floor. The grandmother who saw it panicked, “SANCHI!!” shouting grandma.

Aunt Sanchi rushed to the back, finding Grandma hugging the unconscious sprawled grandfather by the side of the toilet door. The me in front was closing the shop for a break, rushing to catch up with aunt.

“Dad realized” said aunt panicked. We called 119 for an ambulance. I had to stand guard myself waiting for Azura to come to help. Grandma and aunt went to the hospital to take Grandpa. My feelings of anxiety are mixed, hopefully nothing unwanted happens.

A few hours later, Azura came into the store.

“Hoi..Yoshiko, how can it happen. Is grandpa sick end of this final –?”.

“Good grandfather – is fine as usual, grandfather fell while out of the toilet. We also panicked to find grandpa already lying on the floor”.

“Hopefully grandfather did not suffer any serious injuries, well let us cooperate today to sell bento that many”.

“Unfortunately you can make bento stuffing menu?”.

“Do not underestimate the ability of this handsome man, I have been dabbling in the world of cooking – cooking so long”.

“Awas only if our regular customers run away because of the taste of your cuisine that is not good”.

“Trust me..ayo now we work so that the rest of the order is waiting”.

I stared at Azura's feisty behavior in the kitchen, judging by the way she made the bento menu. I know he's an expert at cooking, and super agile. Not to forget he hummed occasionally making me continue to laugh with his false voice.

At exactly 17:00 pm, Azura and I closed the shop and walked home together.

“Azura.

“Hmmm..so I bought the building I rent now, about 10 years. I used to be a regular customer of their store”.

“Do you know about Jiro?”.

“Yes but not much, he is the son of Sanchi”'s aunt.

“Since when did he leave his family?”.

“Since she graduated High School, I remember that time she left with the cries of her family. The young boy went to pay off his father's debt, apparently he joined the organization of a Yakuza clan that controlled Kanto”.

“So she became a member of Yakuza for paying off her family debt?”.

“More precisely the debt of his biological father, the father who left him since childhood only for other women. Then his father came to pawn the certificate of the store and his family's house for the sake of gambling. So”.

I just found out that Jiro the puffer fish's life is quite dark, a child's shoulder is just a puppet burdened with his father's debt.

“Lantas where is his father now?”.

“So please, he hasn't come since then”.

Later that night, we decided to visit Grandpa at the hospital. Azura took out her scooter and hugged me to the hospital.

“Why did you melt once riding a scooter?” my lament.

“Be quiet, this scooter I just bought a year ago after collecting money from tenants for a year. Should be used as best as possible, this is how I treat him”.

“Huft..basic stingy, at least turn the handlebar and the correct gas. It's below average speed – flat, see we're getting behind with other riders. This will lengthen until destination” my angry protest from earlier piggybacking on the back.

“Alright, you little lady. Your voice irritates my ears” he said immediately after gas drove down the night road.

In a room numbered 104 there were 2 patients with curtains as the skat separated the two.

Grandma was sitting in the chair next to the bed holding Grandpa's hand.

“Nek, who is stoic yes.may grandfather quickly recover” I said while putting a bucket of fruit on the table next to the bed.

“Thanks son, you guys have come to see grandpa. Forgive us for bothering you by leaving the store just like that, said grandma.

“I'll help in the store, until grandfather recovers. Take it easy, Yoshiko and I can handle tais” Azura said.

“She was taking care of the administration and booked a taxi for us to go home tonight” replied grandma.

“How's grandpa's condition, grandma?” my many.

“Still not sober until now” replied granny sadly.

“What do doctors say about grandfather?” ask Azura.

Grandma just shook her head.

When we decided to go home, we met Sanchi's aunt sitting in one of the waiting chairs in the corridor.

“Aibi..What aunt is here?” my many.

“Yoshiko...” aunty directly hugged me.

“What's bi?” my many.

We sat in a cafe near the hospital lobby to talk in a relaxed manner.

Aunt crying, “What should I do?”.

“What is bi?” ask Azura.

“Father stricken with dementia and aggravated by the impact on his head when falling. The nerve cell function of his brain is impaired, father will be operated on tomorrow. But it is unlikely that he will be saved” explained aunt by wiping her tears.

Instantly I embrace her and give a wipe – wipe her arm to calm her down.

“Please bi, all will be well – fine” said Azura.

Grandpa's day of operation…

Grandpa with an operating gown appears to be dribbled to the operating room by nurses and doctors with a push-bed. Grandma, Aunt Sachi, Azura and I trailed behind her, we sat in front of the operating room in great anxiety.

Arrived – arrived grandma approached me sitting opposite her, “Nak take me to toilet”.

I drove Grandma to the toilet, upon arrival in front of the door of the woman's special toilet grandmother stopped.

“Nak actually grandma wants to ask for help” she said to me in a soft voice.

“What can I help nek?” my many.

Grandma thrust a piece of shabby paper at me, “Please contact my grandson Jiro, when last night I found out that my sister was occasionally delirious to call him. I know she wants to meet her granddaughter, I beg you to call this number and have her come. I know Sanchi's temperament is very harsh, so I cover this from him. On this paper is my grandson's phone number, Sanchi dumped it in the trash yesterday and I picked it”.

“Alright nek” I also agreed.

We went back to the front of the operating room, I asked Azura to leave Sanchi's grandmother and aunt for a while. In the hospital lobby, I borrowed Azura's phone to call the number on the paper I held.

“TUT….TUT….TUT...” no response from my call.

I also called once again and heard there was a male voice – men who raised it “Hallo who is this?”.

“It's me Yoshiko, is this Jiro?” my many.

“Why are you calling, it is very dangerous for you to call me” he said.

“Your grandfather is in the hospital, he is in surgery now. Can you come now?” my many.

“What! Did ya? But I'm currently in Akita for a clan meeting. I will be there after all finished riding the shinkansen” he said in a soft voice.

“We are waiting for you, if you can hurry because there is less possibility for the success of this operation” added me.

“Okay, I'll try to get there soon. Hmmm..and thanks for letting me know” said.

I hung up the phone, immediately faced with a question by Azura.

“Why use my phone, why not call with your phone?” he asked while taking his phone from my hand.

“Huft base stingy, my phone network is in trouble” I said lie.

“Where did you get the boy's phone number?” tanyanya back.

“I was given this paper from my grandmother, my grandmother asked me to tell her granddaughter to come” I explained.

“Owh.. “ response pisses me off.

Hopefully Jiro can come soon and grandfather's operation goes smoothly. Anxiety haunts me right now, I know aunt and grandmother feel the same way.

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